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Save Schools Now Rally @ New Trier HS

Save Our Schools NOW!

by | Aug 27, 2008 | Current Affairs, Empowerment, Events, Family, Politics


CHECK OUT "THE HILL" IN ACTION SUNDAY…THE PRESSURE IS ON!!!


NOTICE: MYTH REGARDING FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FUNDING…1ST DAY ATTENDANCE DOES NOT AFFECT A SCHOOL'S FUNDING…CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

Only 6 of 100 Black and Latino high school freshmen males will graduate from a four year college. Source: University of Chicago’s Consortium on Chicago School Research
Between 2003 and 2007, white students' reading scores went up while African American, Hispanic and low-incomes student's scores went down. (Chicago Sun-Times, October 31, 2007)

Money spent in Illinois on:

  • Housing an adult prisoner: $21,000
  • Educating a child in Chicago: $10,000
    (Source: Illinois State Board of Education
    Office of Governor Rod Blagojevich)
  • Only 9% of African American 4th graders ranked proficient or above in reading, ranking Illinois 38 out of 41 states. (Chicago Sun-Times, November 2, 2006)
  • Illinois has the largest unaddressed district-to-district funding gap in the nation. (Source: Education Trust)

2005-2006 School Year Graduation Rates in Chicago

  • Black males – 37%
  • White males – 62%
    (Source: Schott Foundation)
  • Illinois ranks 49 out of the 50 states when it comes to funding education from state funds. (Source: Education Trust)

Click Here for more FACTS about the SCHOOL FUNDING CRISIS

Save Schools Now Rally @ New Trier HS

by | Jul 23, 2008 | Christian, Christianity, Empowerment, Leadership, Vision

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW9jk6lEqbE&hl=en&fs=1]

Beginning August 3, 2008, we’ll offer a 3-part series to lay out the changes coming to Mars Hill this fall: It’s called “Trading Candy for Pearls.”

The countdown begins…

Save Schools Now Rally @ New Trier HS

Life on the Other Side – What I learned from Millionaires

by | Jun 11, 2008 | Empowerment, Money and Finance, Vision

Millionaire-logo-medium
 

Today, I had the privilege to participate in my final conference call with a few multi-millionaires and guess what, they think very differently about money, life, and relationships. 

Have you noticed that some people
struggle with money for years and even
decades and others seem to experience
continual success?  Even when successful
people experience tough times it is
usually just a short time until they are
right back on top. The reasons for this is not rocket
science, it is a simple matter of
their beliefs and the actions they take. 
I discovered millionaires become millionaires because
they believe truths about money and take
actions to build wealth.


Additionally, I also discovered the #1 reason people are in
financial bondage is because they
believe lies about money.  Your beliefs control your behaviors
and your behaviors determine your
results. In order to achieve better
results in your finances you must work
on your beliefs.

I learned 10 valuable lessons while participating in these calls that I'd like to share with you.  If you would take the necessary time and apply them to your life, I guarantee your outlook would change for the better.

Lesson #1:  Millionaires think long-term in every area of their lives (especially finance & relationships).

A multi-millionaire explained how society is broken own into 5 groups and each thinks differently about money and life:


  1. The Very Poor think day to day – their goal is to survive
  2. The Poor think week to week – their goal is to survive as well
  3. The Middle-class think month to month – their goal is comfort
  4. The Rich think year to year – their goal is freedom
  5. Millionaires think decade to decade – their goal is total freedom


So, what do you think?

Save Schools Now Rally @ New Trier HS

Get Paid…Build Wealth TODAY

by | May 22, 2008 | Empowerment, Family, Money and Finance

Money
African Americans are steadily increasing their wealth, boosting their
holdings in real estate, stocks, and savings vehicles, as they seek to
fund college educations for their children and create a secure
retirement for themselves. It's a process of becoming ever more keenly
aware of the need to save, invest, and plan for the future.

Black Enterprise Magazine has created the Circle of Wealth, a black
wealth initiative that seeks economic empowerment for African Americans
by changing attitudes toward money management. The Circle is an ongoing
cycle comprised of 1.) Knowledge, 2.) Commitment, 3.) Investment, 4.)
Portfolio Management, and 5.) Wealth, all enabling Reinvestment in
Children, Businesses, and Community.  As part of this powerful initiative, the magazine developed the
Declaration a Financial Empowerment, the following 10–point
wealth–building pledge (I added the 11th point 🙂
 
In order to attain a measure of
success, power and wealth, I shall uphold the principles of saving and
investing as well as
controlled spending and disciplined consumerism. I vow to fully
participate in the capital markets and make a solid commitment to a
program of wealth accumulation.
Determination and consistency will serve as my guides, and I shall not
allow external or internal forces to keep me from reaching my goals. By
adjusting my course and embracing a new mandate that stresses planning,
education and fortitude, I lay a strong, unbreakable foundation for the
preservation and enrichment of my family, children and children's
children. 
From this day forward, I declare my lifelong commitment to financial empowerment.

DECLARATION OF FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT

I pledge the following:


1. To use home ownership to build wealth


2. To save & invest 10-15% of my after-tax income


3. To commit to a program of retirement planning and investment


4. To engage in sound budget, credit, and tax management practices


5. To measure my personal worth by my net worth, not income


6. To be proactive & knowledgeable about investing, money management, & consumer issues


7. To provide access to programs that will educate my children about business & finance


8. To support the creation & growth of profitable, competitive black-owned enterprises


9. To use a portion of my wealth to strengthen my community


10. To ensure that my wealth is passed on to future generations


11. To give @ least 10% (or more) of my wealth to my church to honor God and expand His Kingdom

TODAY IS THE DAY I TAKE CONTROL OF MY FINANCIAL DESTINY!

COME JOIN US AND MAKE THE COMMITMENT!

Save Schools Now Rally @ New Trier HS

Leadership Formula: Change = Pain + Loss x Frustration

by | Apr 16, 2008 | Books, Communication, Empowerment, Leadership, Vision

Change_2

Currently, I’m reading a new book entitled The Missional Leader by Alan Roxburgh, and boy is it GREAT!  I’m willing to suggest this may be one of the best books I’ve read (so far) regarding leadership and change. 

Thinking about initiating a wide-scale change/transition initiative
in your church or organization?  Here are a couple of questions worth
asking before you dive in…

  1. Are we STRUCTURED for change?

    Is your church or organization structured in a way that will allow the
    RIGHT PEOPLE to lead and make decisions?  If not – do not proceed past GO….do NOT collect $200!

    First things first!!

    If you’re not structured for change, it doesn’t matter how passionate or
    committed you might be to it – there will always be a chance that the
    wrong people could step in to infiltrate, hijack, or sabotage the transition.

  2. Am I COMMITTED to change?

Perhaps the question should be….  "Am I committed to change – NO MATTER WHAT THE COST?" 

Am I willing to lose people?  Lose money?  Lose popularity?  Lose friendships?  Maybe even lose buildings?

Listen to me……..TRUE CHANGE is COSTLY!  There will be a cost!  And it will be painful.  It will be felt. 

There will be scars and bruises. 

Are you up for it?

Consider that question!  Because if you’re NOT fully, 100%
committed, you better think twice before diving in – for YOUR sake AND
for the sake of those who will believe in your vision and stand by
you.